Nine races will be run and won at Rosehill on Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) between the fillies and mares.
A field of 18 has accepted for the $600,000 feature with all eying ballot exemption from both the Doncaster Mile and the Coolmore Legacy Stakes later on in April.
Impressive Surround Stakes winner Forbidden Love has been installed as the early favourite in Ladbrokes betting, followed closely by Archie Alexander’s lightly-raced mare Chaillot.
The Coolmore is one of the few Group 1’s that has eluded Chris Waller, but the champion trainer does look to have a serious chance at winning one with both Madam Rouge and Subpoenaed lining up.
If you’re looking for a complete run down on each and every horse, be sure to read our 2021 Coolmore Classic Preview below.
Mizzy
Mizzy returns on the quick backup following a surprise runner-up performance to Savatiano in last Saturday’s Canterbury Stakes at Randwick.
The Zoustar mare jumped at 70-1 in Ladbrokes’ market but raced every bit like a favourite down the straight after winding up from mid-field to lunge at the line.
She has raced well previously on wet tracks at Rosehill, most recently running on for sixth first-up in the Expressway and fourth two years ago in this same race on a Heavy 9.
The wide draw does leave Regan Bayliss with work to do, but if she can offset it nice and early, another spot in the minors isn’t out of the question.
Sweet Deal
Sweet Deal is having her second run back from a spell after returning a good effort for fifth first-up in the Group 2 Guy Walter Thoroughbred Stakes at Randwick.
The John Thompson-trained mare won the $1 million Hunter race at Newcastle to cap off her Spring, while she’s also a proven Rosehill performer with three wins on the board from nine starts.
She was far from disgraced racing at this level for the first time last April finding the line for fifth over the mile in the Queen of the Turf Stakes.
With two wins on the soft and an inside barrier, she shapes as one of the better each-way bets in the race.
Krone
Krone is shooting for a hat-trick after winning the Group 2 Guy Walter Thoroughbred Stakes off a freshen-up at Randwick.
After narrowly winning the Magic Millions Fillies & Mare’s race on the Gold Coast back in January, the Tony Gollan-trained mare resumed in style with a bursting run out wide to beat home Saturday’s rivals Tricky Gal and Icebath by close to two lengths.
The five-year-old has raced in Group 1 company only once in the past where she was beaten nearly three-lengths in the 2018 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Outside of Alligator Blood, Queenslanders have struggled to win interstate Group 1’s recently, but there is a case to be made for another Krone upset with any rain about.
Madam Rouge
Madam Rouge strips fitter for her second-up run when sixth to Savatiano last week in the Canterbury Stakes.
The classy mare by Zoustar enjoyed a comfortable sit off the speed under James McDonald and was seen doing her best work late from out wide.
The Chris Waller-trained galloper has been a frustrating play for punters in the past, but she does tend to do her best work with a few runs under her belt.
Barrier 8 should see J-Mac get back nice and early, and based on the way she finished off last week, the extra 200m does look to be a plus.
Subpoenaed
Subpoenaed’s trials earlier in January suggested she had returned a much better horse, and that certainly became clear when she won the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes first-up in dominant fashion.
The Kiwi import has since had a trial between runs and has drawn to get a lovely run off the speed under Tommy Berry.
The pair combined to win the Group 2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill during the Spring, while she also has two wins to her name on soft going.
Icebath
Icebath is looking to break a recent run of placings when she steps out in a Group 1 for the first time on Saturday.
The mare by Sacred Falls returned a fair effort for third first-up in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes at Randwick before working home beautifully from a three-wide position for the same result in the Guy Walter Stakes behind Krone.
Like many others, the four-year-old loves racing with some sting out of the track and she can only improve on recent efforts.
Providing she can get back and run on, she’s worth serious thought in exotics.
Reelem In Ruby
Reelem In Ruby was off the scene for just under a year before she returned for fourth first-up in the Triscay Stakes at Randwick.
Like Icebath, the Snowden mare was caught wide second-up in the Guy Walter where she found traffic down the straight before finishing off for the same result.
She does come in with fitness on her side, but this still looks tough from the awkward draw.
Sovereign Award
Sovereign Award was the all-the-way winner of last week’s Group 3 Matron Stakes at Flemington thanks to some brilliant tactics from Damian Lane.
The mare by Shamus Award was originally set to run in the All-Star Mile at The Valley, but connections have instead opted for a quick trip to Sydney in what is arguably a much more favourable race.
The five-year-old has won previously over the 1500m earlier in her career, but this still looks tough in what will be her first look at Rosehill from a tricky gate.
Forbidden Love
Forbidden Love can become the fifth horse and the first since Regal Cheer in 2006 to complete the Surround Stakes – Coolmore Classic double on Saturday.
The Freedman-trained filly was enormous under Nash Rawiller a fortnight ago where she quickened along the fence to kick clear and win the Surround by three lengths over Vangelic and Elizabeel.
The daughter of All Too Hard has now won five of her 11 starts to date and has returned a different horse since running third to Shout The Bar in last year’s Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.
She is unproven beyond 1400m, but after winning the Surround with plenty left in reserve, there’s no doubt she can see out the extra trip with Rawiller dropping 1.5kg for the ride.
With the chance of a wet track, Forbidden Love is the one they have to beat.
Rich Hips
Rich Hips is shooting for her hat-trick after rattling off two narrow Group 3 wins at Flemington and Caulfield over the last six months.
The four-year-old capped off her Spring with a win over Lyre in The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at Headquarters before making up a stack of ground to kick clear of Perfect Jewel first-up in the Mannerism last month.
She’s clearly a horse of ability, but this looks tougher in what will be her first Group 1 appearance.
All Saints’ Eve
All Saints’ Eve is an honest type that very rarely runs a bad race.
Since winning the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle back in September, she’s progressed through the grades nicely to run a very bold fourth in the Golden Eagle and a handy third when fresh two weeks ago in the Liverpool City Cup at Randwick.
This is the toughest assignment she’s faced, but with a perfect 2-0 record second-up, she’s a definite each-way chance.
Tricky Gal
Tricky Gal can take improvement into the Coolmore after finishing a clear second to Krone in the Guy Walter Stakes last time out.
Prior to that, she ran the fastest final 600m in the Triscay first-up where she was unlucky not to score when a length second to Tailleur.
Her recent form makes for easy reading – especially considering she also finished half-a-length second to Savatiano last year in the Hot Danish over a touch shorter.
She absolutely loves it wet and there is no question she’s over the odds with two-time Coolmore winner Glen Boss booked to ride.
Emeralds
Emeralds failed to letdown last time out in the Guy Walter where she was caught wide at the turn before finishing sixth.
Her first-up run when third behind Savatiano in the Expressway was full of merit, but this only looks tougher from the wide alley.
Chaillot
Chaillot is only lightly raced, but she does look capable of staging an upset based on everything we’ve seen from her so far.
The mare by Testa Rossa scored herself a hat-trick with a first-up win at Flemington back in September before going on to finish less than a length fourth to Shout The Bar in the Empire Rose Stakes.
After returning to the paddock, she resumed in dominant fashion once again to win the Tressady at Flemington two weeks ago thanks to a brilliant run from well back in the field under Declan Bates.
Still searching for his second Group 1, Bates has been engaged again on Saturday and the pair should take some beating if they can shuffle across early.
Dame Giselle
Dame Giselle was outstanding during the Spring claiming a hat-trick of Group 2 wins at Randwick, but it’s clear she hasn’t returned the same horse this time in work.
The three-year-old by I Am Invincible failed to let down last time out in the Surround Stakes and will only find this tougher from the awkward gate.
Aliferous
Aliferous appears outclassed here after racing among much easier company of late.
It’s been nearly two years since the Hinchinbrook mare last won a race and the current market price more than reflects that.
Barbie’s Fox
Barbie’s Fox gets the blinkers on for the first time looking to improve on last week’s disappointing effort at Sandown.
The mare by Foxwedge has failed to win, let alone place in much easier races than this of late, and is set to struggle in a field of this quality.
Vangelic
Vangelic will carry only 50kg on Saturday and rates as a serious knockout chance from the Waterhouse and Bott stable.
The lightly-raced three-year-old finished a clear second to Forbidden Love in the Surround Stakes two weeks ago, but she does look capable of going one better after also finishing third in the Flight Stakes over the mile at Randwick last October.
With 6kg off from her last start and a soft draw, she must be included in your numbers if the track plays to her liking.
Coolmore Classic Tips
6 Icebath at $9.00
